The targeted area for the last week of December will be Lakeport Boulevard between S. Main Street and Parallel Drive, according to Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.

After considering community concerns and assessing higher traffic volume areas of the city, Rasmussen said the department intends to increase enforcement of hazardous traffic violations such as speed, improper turning movements, right of way violations, failure to obey traffic signs or signals, impaired driving and use of cellular phones while driving.

He said officers will be working extra traffic enforcement details in this area throughout the

week.

Members of the public are encouraged to contact a department supervisor to discuss any traffic safety concerns they may have.

The Lakeport Police Department can be reached at 707-263-5491.

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Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said police were dispatched at 8:20 a.m. Sunday to the 400 block of Campbell Lane to investigate a burglary at Borges Logging after an observant citizen saw two suspicious male subjects at the property.

Police met with the business owner and found that locks on the property gate and buildings had been cut and the buildings entered with property removed from them, Rasmussen said.

He said police believe that the two male subjects had been on the property for at least an hour and were in the process of removing items from buildings to be loaded into a vehicle when the citizen spotted them.

Rasmussen said most of the property, including tools and equipment, was recovered at the scene after the subjects fled the area. Police also located evidence which we believe may assist in the identification of the vehicle and suspects.

The suspects are described as white male adults, both between the ages of 20 and 25 years, Rasmussen said.

He described the first man as approximately 6 feet tall, 170 to 180 pounds, clean shaven with sideburns. He was seen wearing a black beanie cap, dark colored sweatshirt and dark colored pants.

The second man has a thin build, was unshaven with reddish-colored stubble, had a groove between his two upper front teeth, a tongue ring and was wearing a dark green beanie cap, according to Rasmussen.

He said the vehicle the men were driving was described as a late model white sedan, possibly a Chevrolet Impala or Buick.

Then at 3:30 a.m. Monday the Lakeport Police Department was dispatched to the 1900 block of Alden Avenue to investigate the report of suspicious adult male subjects prowling around a residence, Rasmussen said.

Prior to officers’ arrive, the subjects fled in a vehicle which Rasmussen said was described as a dark-colored, possibly maroon, compact to mid-size sedan.

The department is continuing to investigate the incidents and does not know if they are

related, Rasmussen said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491.

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Sgt. Steve Brooks said the fraud scheme involves telling the elderly victims that they have a relative who has been arrested outside of the country and asking for them to wire money so the relative can be released from jail.

On Friday, Dec. 16, an elderly Upper Lake man reported to the sheriff's office that he had received a telephone call from someone identifying himself as “Frank Griffin,” who advised the victim that his nephew was currently incarcerated in Peru, according to Brooks.

Griffin requested that money be sent to him so the victim’s nephew could be released from jail and return home for the Christmas holiday, Brooks reported. Unfortunately in this case, the victim did in fact wire several thousand dollars to a specified address.

Brooks said the money was wired on two occasions to a “Mary Blake” in Peru. Between each wire, the victim was recontacted by Griffin, who asked for the transfer confirmation number. Shortly after wiring the money, the victim learned that his nephew had not traveled to Peru and was home safe.

Brooks said the report from the Upper Lake man appears to be very similar to a trend observed in early 2009 and again this past March in which elderly victims were sending money to persons they thought were grandchildren in need.

In March of this year, an elderly Kelseyville woman reported getting a call from someone claiming to be her grandson, who claimed to have been arrested in Canada for DUI, Brooks said.

The suspect talked the woman into wiring $2,800 via Western Union to Madrid, Spain, so he could pay his fines, Brooks said. After returning home from wiring the $2,800, the woman got another call from the suspect asking for another $2,500 for attorney fees.

Brooks said the woman again wired money to Spain and after sending the $2,500, she was called a third time asking for another $2,000. This time the woman refused and later contacted her son and found out her grandson had been in Redding the whole time.

In another case, an elderly Upper Lake woman received a call that her grandson was being held in jail in Madrid. Brooks said she was told she needed to wire $2,000 to get her grandson out.

Fortunately in this case, the woman called her daughter who lived out of state as she was leaving to wire the money. Her daughter called the sheriff’s office, which intervened before the $2,000 was sent to the suspect, Brooks said.

Brooks said these are some examples of cases reported to the sheriff’s office. He said there is no telling how many others have gone unreported.

The suspects in these cases usually have detailed information about the actual grandchild or family member who is supposedly in trouble. Brooks said they often are able to convince the victims they are in fact their grandchild.

Brooks said there isn’t nearly as much advice on preventing fraud and scams as there are ways to be defrauded.

However, aside from protecting one’s personal information, members of the public are encouraged to always carefully scrutinize unsolicited request of any kind before acting on them, he said.

Additionally, phone calls from supposed relatives or on the behalf of relatives asking for money should always be verified by contacting relatives, or the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 707-262-4200, before sending any money, Brooks said.

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At 9:54 p.m. Tuesday officers were dispatched to the 5600 block of Jones Avenue for a report of shots fired, according to Sgt. Martin Snyder.

When they arrived, the officers contacted the reporting party, who stated three black male adults were at his residence, Snyder said.

One of the subjects knocked on the front door and asked the man for driving directions. The three males then left in a vehicle, according to Snyder.

Approximately 45 minutes later the subjects returned to the residence, with one of the subjects knocking on the door of the home, he said.

The homeowner then armed himself with a can of pepper spray, and as he exited the residence one of the male suspects fled on foot and the other two got into a parked vehicle, Snyder reported.

As the subjects fled, the passenger fired two rounds from a small caliber handgun out of the vehicle, Snyder said.

There were no apparent injuries or damage located on the scene at the time of the investigation, he added.

The reporting party described the vehicle as a two-door gray or white vehicle with front end damage on the driver side, Snyder said.

The suspects are believed to be three black male adults. Snyder said one of the males was described as having his hair in dreadlocks and wearing a dark-colored, hooded sweater.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Officer Adams at the Clearlake Police Department, 707-994-8251.

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From left, Cynthia Lynn Downing, 35, of Lucerne, Calif., and Brandy Marie Boyle, 32, of Kelseyville, Calif., were arrested for allegedly burglarizing a home in Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, December 17, 2011. Lake County Jail photos.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Police officers arrested two women who allegedly were involved in burglarizing a residence early Saturday morning.

Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said officers took into custody Brandy Marie Boyle, 32, of Kelseyville, and Cynthia Lynn Downing, 35, of Lucerne, in connection with the burglary, which occurred on Saturday, Dec. 17.

Rasmussen said that at 7:20 a.m. that day Lakeport Police officers, assisted by Lake County Sheriff’s deputies, were dispatched to the 100 block of Ruby Drive to investigate the report of a burglary in progress.

He said officers responded and located two female subjects, identified as Boyle and Downing, standing outside of the residence near a pickup truck that was parked in the driveway.

Officers conducted an investigation of the scene and determined that the house had been

ransacked, with at least 12 personal household items having been removed and placed in the bed of the pickup truck, Rasmussen said.

He said officers determined that the elderly male resident was not currently staying at his residence but that it was being cared for by a trustee who took control of the removed property and secured the residence.

Boyle and Downing were arrested for burglary and transported to the Hill Road Correctional

Facility.

Booking sheets showed that Boyle was booked on a felony count of first-degree burglary and three misdemeanor bench warrants, as well as a felony probation violation which resulted in a no-bail hold. Downing was booked on a count of first-degree burglary with bail set at $50,000.

Jail records indicated that both women remained in the Lake County Jail on Monday.

Rasmussen said both Boyle and Downing are known to law enforcement from prior contacts.

He said Boyle has prior arrests that include grand theft, burglary, possession of stolen

property and controlled substance offenses, while Downing has previously been arrested for charges including controlled substance offenses and one case of petty theft.

Lakeport Police officers are continuing to investigate the circumstances of this incident including the possible involvement of a third suspect, Rasmussen said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491.

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Sgt. Kevin Odom said the agency was offering the following recommendations in an effort to help everyone avoid being the victim of crime this holiday season.

Among the suggestions, Odom said community members should avoid leaving gifts or packages in plain view in vehicles while shopping. Make sure to lock you vehicle and park in well lit areas.

Several reports regarding counterfeit money circulated in the area have been reported, so Odom said to be vigilant about inspecting your cash.

Telephone scams soliciting for personal information or money increase during the holidays so be sure to verify the identity of anyone you converse with over the phone and only give personal information to trusted individuals, he said.

Odom said to always be mindful of your surroundings, and carry a cell phone if possible.

When driving, be mindful of the pedestrian traffic, said Odom. Do not use cell phones or other distracting devices while driving, and always designate a sober driver.

Please alert law enforcement whenever you see suspicious activity, he added.

The Lakeport Police wishes everyone a happy holiday season and a safe and happy new year.

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